Dothan, AL — June 24, 2025, One person was killed following an 18-wheeler accident that occurred on Tuesday on Country Road 27.

According to reports, an 18-wheeler operated by Jason Ketcham was traveling on Country Road 27 outside of Troy, when it lost control for unknown reason and overturned.

When first responders arrived on the scene they found Ketcham had sustained critical injuries and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased the following day. Authorities have not released a possible cause for the accident. This remains an ongoing investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When an 18-wheeler overturns on a rural road with no clear explanation, the most important question becomes: what caused the driver to lose control? According to reports, this crash happened along County Road 27 outside of Troy. The truck overturned for reasons that haven’t yet been disclosed, and the driver was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, where he was later pronounced deceased. The cause remains under investigation.

Overturns Rarely Happen Without a Trigger

A fully loaded semi-truck is engineered for stability, especially under normal road conditions. That means when one overturns, something disrupted that balance—whether it was driver input, mechanical failure, a shifting load, or an environmental factor like poor road surface or debris. In a case like this, black box data from the truck is essential. It can reveal the vehicle’s speed, braking activity, and steering movements in the moments before the crash.

Investigators should also be reviewing physical evidence at the scene—tire marks, gouges in the pavement, or signs of evasive maneuvers. These can help determine whether the truck drifted, overcorrected, or encountered an obstacle.

Rural Roads Pose Unique Hazards

County roads can present a different kind of challenge for truck drivers compared to highways. They may be narrower, poorly maintained, or lack clear shoulder space. Curves can be sharper, and visibility more limited. If the truck encountered any of those conditions unexpectedly, the driver may have had little time to react.

That’s why it’s important to know the road layout, weather conditions at the time, and whether the driver was familiar with the route. In past cases I’ve worked, even a routine delivery route turned deadly due to an overlooked bend in the road or a misjudged shoulder drop-off.

Mechanical and Cargo Issues Must Be Examined

Mechanical failure—whether in the steering, suspension, or brakes—is another possibility. A truck that loses any part of its control system, even briefly, can become difficult to manage on a tight rural road. Reviewing maintenance records and recent repair history will be key to determining whether the truck was roadworthy.

It’s also critical to understand how the truck was loaded. If the cargo wasn’t evenly distributed or secured, it could have shifted during a turn or sudden stop, throwing the vehicle off balance and contributing to the overturn.

Key Takeaways

• The 18-wheeler reportedly lost control and overturned, but the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
• Overturns are typically the result of multiple factors, including speed, road conditions, load balance, or equipment failure.
• Black box data, scene evidence, and maintenance records are essential to understanding how the crash unfolded.
• Rural roads may introduce risks not present on highways, including sharper turns and limited shoulder space.
• A thorough investigation is needed to determine whether this crash was preventable and where responsibility may ultimately lie.